Transcript Test Taking Skills

Test Taking
• Throughout your time in high school and college you will take
many different tests
• Classroom quizzes and tests
• Semester finals
• End of Course (EOC) Exams
• RIA (English and Math Interim Assessments)
• PARCC/SBA (State Based Testing)
• AP Exams (Optional exam to try to earn college credit for taking an AP
course)
• ACT/SAT (College entrance exams)
Knowing how to take a test
can help you accurately
demonstrate your knowledge
and improve your scores
Before the Test
Before the Test
• One of the biggest reasons students do not do well on tests is lack of
preparation
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Preparation can come in many forms:
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Attend class regularly
Participate in discussions
Ask questions to clarify information that you don’t understand
Take notes
Do the homework
Re-read your notes
Read the textbook
Study the material
• Use online resources like Quizlet.com or StudyBlue.com to help you study
Before the Test
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Get a good night’s sleep
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Sleep helps us think more clearly and creatively
Strengthens memory
Produces a more positive mood and better performance throughout the day
Eat a healthy breakfast
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Breakfast provides you with the energy and nutrients that lead to increased
concentration
Wear a watch to help you with timing
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Taking a timed test and not knowing what time it is can cause test anxiety
Wear a watch and keep your own time to help stay on track
Get to the classroom/testing room early
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Take a minute to relax and reduce your anxiety
Maintain a positive attitude (You can do this!)
During the Test
During the Test
• Use the DETER Method
• D - Directions
• E - Examine
• T - Time
• E - Easiest
• R - Review
http://www.slideshare.net/Bearkits/test-taking-strategies-16610886?qid=a0b0c412-f1ad4b58-8e13-2c89f0a99947&v=qf1&b=&from_search=6
D - Directions
• Listen to any instructions your teacher
provides as he/she is handing out the test
• Read the written test directions very carefully
• Ask your teacher to explain the directions you
do not understand
• Only by following the directions can you
achieve a good score on the test
Adapted from: http://www.slideshare.net/Bearkits/test-taking-strategies16610886?qid=a0b0c412-f1ad-4b58-8e13-2c89f0a99947&v=qf1&b=&from_search=6
E - Examine
• Examine the entire test to see how much you have to do
• If there are essays, look at how many are required
• Look for point values of questions
• Check to see if there are questions on the back of the page
• Only by knowing the entire task can you break it down
into parts that become manageable for you
Adapted from: http://www.slideshare.net/Bearkits/test-taking-strategies16610886?qid=a0b0c412-f1ad-4b58-8e13-2c89f0a99947&v=qf1&b=&from_search=6
T - Time
• Once you have examined the entire test, decide
how much time you will spend on each item
• Know your strengths and weaknesses
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If there are reading passages and you struggle with reading
comprehension, make sure you allot enough time for that portion of the
test
• Planning your time will help you avoid spending so
much time on one item that you have little time
left for other test items
http://www.slideshare.net/Bearkits/test-taking-strategies-16610886?qid=a0b0c412-f1ad4b58-8e13-2c89f0a99947&v=qf1&b=&from_search=6
E - Easiest
• Answer the items you find easiest first
• If you don’t know the answer, put a ✓ next to
it so you can easily go back to it later
• If you are taking a test with a scantron, make sure
to skip and that you are marking your answer on
the correct line
• Once you have made it through the test
once, go back and answer all the ones you
skipped
Adapted from: http://www.slideshare.net/Bearkits/test-taking-strategies16610886?qid=a0b0c412-f1ad-4b58-8e13-2c89f0a99947&v=qf1&b=&from_search=6
R - Review
• If you have planned your time correctly, you will have time
to review your answers and make them as complete and
accurate as possible
• Make sure to review the test directions to be certain you
have answered all of the required questions
• Use all of the time given, it is not a race to finish
• Telling yourself you are going to use all of the time given can
also help reduce anxiety
• Just because other students are turning their tests in doesn’t
mean you should rush
Adapted from: http://www.slideshare.net/Bearkits/test-taking-strategies16610886?qid=a0b0c412-f1ad-4b58-8e13-2c89f0a99947&v=qf1&b=&from_search=6
Types of Tests
Multiple Choice
• One strategy you should use when taking a multiple choice
test is to
• Cover the answers
• Read the question and try to think of the correct answer
• Then uncover the answers and see if you were right
• If not, use the process of elimination to narrow down the options
What is the capitol of Russia?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Rome
Berlin
Ottowa
Moscow
Multiple Choice (continued)
• If you do not know the answer, cross
out the ones you know are wrong
• This gives you better odds at getting
the question correct if you have to
guess
• After you narrow it down, if you still
don’t know, continue taking the test
and come back to this question later
• Sometimes another question on the
test will provide you information or
will jog your memory to help you
answer a previous question
Beamed is another way
of saying –
A screamed
B listened
C smiled
D laughed
True/False
• Look for any factor that will make a statement false
For Example:
• Water boils at 212 degrees in Denver
• This statement is false, water does boil at 212 degrees
but not at Denver’s altitude
• Also, look for extreme modifiers that tend to make the
question False
For Example:
• It always rains in Seattle FALSE
• It often rains in Seattle TRUE
https://casc.byu.edu/testtaking-strategies
True/False (continued)
Extreme Modifiers
• It is rare that something would always happen so recognizing the word always will
help you realize it is not the correct answer. Other words to watch for would be:
All
Always
Only
None
Never
Nobody
No one
Best
Worst
Everybody
Everyone
Absolutely
Absolutely not
Certainly
Certainly not
Qualifying Words
• Look for qualifying words that tend to make a question true such as
Usually
Frequently
Often
Sometimes
Some
Seldom
Many
Much
Probably
A majority
Most
Might
A few
https://casc.byu.edu/testtaking-strategies
Essay
• Before you start writing your answer, think through what
elements of the course might be relevant for your answer –
lecture, reading, discussion
• Don’t waste time doing an elaborate outline – jot down a few
notes but spend most of your time writing the answer not
preparing for it
http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors-guide/2009/11/18/top-10-tips-for-taking-essay-tests
Essay (continued)
• Form a clear thesis statement (statement of purpose) and
place it as near to the beginning as possible
• Provide clear explanations to back up your main concept
• Remember a complete answer usually has a main idea,
supporting detail and illustrative examples
• Remember to save some space for a brief but adequate
summary
https://casc.byu.edu/testtaking-strategies
Essay (continued)
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If you are asked a specific question…ANSWER IT
Don’t compare when you are supposed to contrast
Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding
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Yes the instructor knows everything about the topic but they are trying to see how
much you know
Remember, don’t list reasons without assessing them
The more detail the better
Answer in simple, clear language
Make sure you write legibly
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If the teacher struggles to figure out what you wrote, they are going to get frustrated
and your grade may suffer
Adapted from: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors-guide/2009/11/18/top-10-tips-for-taking-essay-tests
Essay (continued)
• When you are done with the test you may feel like you want to
add more to your essay
• It is ok to go back and fill in more important details, just draw an
arrow to the margin and add it in
• But, if you are still writing your essay and find that you are
running out of time, at least sketch out how you would have
answered so the teacher can at least see your thought process
Adapted from: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors-guide/2009/11/18/top-10-tips-for-taking-essay-tests
Other Important Tests
As mentioned earlier, you will not only have classroom tests but
you will have tests that you must pass for graduation and college
entrance
Current graduation requirements
• All students must take and pass the Reading, Math and Science PARCC
and/or SBA as well as pass EOC’s in Writing and Social Studies
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These requirements are subject to change
Visit http://www.aps.edu/schools/graduation-requirements for up to date
information
ACT/SAT
• In addition to classroom and graduation exams, you will
need to take the ACT or SAT for college admissions
• These exams allow colleges and universities to compare your
academic preparation to other students across the nation and
determine your eligibility for admission, scholarships and
placement into courses
• All schools in the nation accept the ACT and all but 7 accept the SAT
so it is your choice which exam you want to take
• Some students take both to see which one better reflects their
knowledge
ACT/SAT
• The LCHS Counseling Department recommends
taking these exams for the first time at the end of your
Junior year (March/April), then again in June if you
want to try to increase your score
•This will allow you to have your scores ready so you can
start applying to college in the fall of your senior year
ACT/SAT
• So how do you prepare to take these exams?
•Two of the best ways to prepare for the test is to take
challenging classes and become familiar with the exams
• The LCHS PTA offers practice ACT’s every fall and
spring to help students prepare
• You can also take practice tests on the ACT and SAT
websites and sign up to receive the Question of the
Day
• Visit www.actstudent.org and/or
www.collegeboard.org for more information
Take out a piece of paper and pencil
• At the top of the page write
• Test Taking Skills
• Your Name
• Today’s Date
• Write a paragraph on the information you learned today. What
two things can you do to improve your test taking ability?
• When you are done, please place this paper in your Advisory
Folder. It will be used for your Student Led Conference in the
Spring.